Set down the end of an enormous driveway, flanked by fountains and olive trees, is the 5-star Conrad Algarve in Quinta do Lago. It is the hottest resort in the area right now and is modelled on an 18th century palace with a circular light filled lobby.

The beach is about ten minutes away and across the road is a high end shopping centre and the cars parked outside are Teslas, Bentleys and Range Rovers so pack your best linen suits and Panama hats for a stay here.

The hotel was built in 2011 but was bought by Denis O’Brien at the end of 2024 and an extensive high end makeover has been ongoing ever since. Top end designers – many of them Irish – have been brought in to transform the hotel.

The first change off the lobby is a swish new bar called The Nest designed by Kerry man Bryan O’Sullivan from Bos Studios in London, where guests can enjoy the hotel’s signature cocktails or feast on rib-eye steaks or blue lobster rolls.

If you are thinking of staying the Conrad has 154 bedrooms spanning six floors. There is an intricate floral design on each of the doors, which is carried through to the bathrooms that feature beautiful white botanical wall tiles over the bath. The toiletries are Byredo and the whole feeling is plush with muted grey interiors, leather headboards and expensive looking armchairs. The day I visited in July every room in the place was booked out.

The Infinity penthouse is the pièce de résistance, so much so it has won numerous awards over the years for being the best penthouse in Portugal. It has its own private lift from the car park, an indoor pool with a retractable roof, a sauna and steam room and your own private terrace, where you could have a party for about a 100 people if you wanted.

There are five pools in the resort and the one in front of the restaurant is the best place for people-spotting. Overheard in the pool as I took a dip were tanned-looking golfers talking about ‘where they were going to buy in the area’.

The second larger Dado pool below is for families and their nannies with a kids club nearby and tennis courts.

There are six restaurants in the Conrad, but the newly redesigned Oliveira brasserie is the standout with olive trees a go go. It has its own signature olive oil made by a local producer and has been exquisitely remodelled in the last year.

It has a stunning indoor and outdoor dining area overlooking the pool with a central circular bar where you can while away an afternoon with a bottle of rosé, admiring the well-heeled guests.

There is also Michelin-star restaurant Gusto (named after the founder of the Hilton Hotel Group) which is under the guidance of three Michelin-star chef Heinz Beck. On your walk to the restaurant you will pass lots of cool photography and artwork, which is a signature in hotels owned by Denis and Catherine O’Brien.

There are six golf courses in the area, should you wish to leave the hotel, or you can take the courtesy hotel shuttle to the nearby Qbeach where the hotel has beach beds you can hire.

There is also a spa with five treatment rooms with skincare products such as the 111SKIN Collection and Hungarian brand Omorovicza, which is exclusive to the hotel.

Attached to the hotel on either side of the driveway are 80 luxury apartments which went on sale over the last year, with the first residents moving in at the end of 2026. At the time of publication, only a few were left on the market – but you will need several million if you are interested and if you are looking for a new husband, January at the hotel bar will be the place to be!

Double rooms at The Conrad Algarve run from €820 in high season with breakfast included.

Low season sees doubles start from €360.

See more pictures of the hotel below.